The Salary Index

Salary Comparison

Software Developers: Billings vs Burbank

Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.

Best Value

Billings, MT

$119,666/yr

Take-home$7,280/mo
Disposable$4,997/mo
Lifestyle10/10 ยท Comfortable

Burbank, CA

$155,330/yr

Take-home$9,449/mo
Disposable$5,626/mo
Lifestyle8/10 ยท Comfortable
๐Ÿ†

Our recommendation: Billings, MT

Billings offers higher purchasing power (10 vs 8/10), giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.

Full Breakdown

Billings

Burbank

Diff (Aโˆ’B)

Annual Gross Salary

$119,666

$155,330

$35,664

A vs B

Monthly Take-Home

After estimated federal + state taxes

$7,280

$9,449

$2,169

A vs B

Cost of Living Index

Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100

85

142

-57 pts

A vs B

Monthly Living Costs

Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare

$2,283

$3,823

$1,540

A vs B

Monthly Rent

$1,250

$2,450

$1,200

A vs B

Monthly Disposable

$4,997

$5,626

$629

A vs B

Purchasing Power Score

Take-home รท living costs. Higher is better

3.19ร—

2.47ร—

+0.72ร—

A vs B

Lifestyle Score

10/10 (Comfortable)

8/10 (Comfortable)

+2

A vs B

Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.